Omron launches high inrush capability relay for safe, smart lighting controls

New from Omron Electronic Components Europe is the G5RL-K-EL latching relay tailored for the high inrush performance needed in smart building automation systems and for the control of capacitive loads. The new low-profile power relay – ideal for controlling fluorescent and LED lamps – has an innovative single contact structure, making it a highly competitive solution. The new 16A G5RL-K-EL latching type relay is approved to IEC60669-1, and has a high inrush current capability up to 255A, making it ideal for demanding switching environments where loads vary enormously. The device is also compatible with the International Safety Standard for Electrical/ Electronic Household Appliances (IEC60335-1). The latching design saves energy as there is no hold current to keep the relay open. The device is a timely addition to the company’s popular G5RL relay family, explained Andries de Bruin, Senior European Product Marketing Manager at Omron: “Smart building systems can reduce the need to touch shared surfaces – an important safety measure as we return to working life after COVID-19. So facilities managers are increasingly turning to automated lighting to increase safety as well as save energy. But the highly variable loads typical of these systems demand specialist components. The new G5RL-K-EL is a smart solution to this growing challenge.”

Ansell Lighting Streets Ahead with Magna LED

Ansell Lighting’s Magna LED Street Light is the ultimate streetlight, providing powerful illumination in open outdoor spaces. Ideal for both street and area lighting and in spaces such as pedestrian zones or car parks, the Magna LED Street Light incorporates advanced lens technology for optimum performance and control, delivering an evenly distributed, cool white light alongside an extremely low ‘G3’ level of glare. Available in 30w, 50w and 70w outputs, the pole and spigot mountable street light is highly durable, achieving IP66 and IK09 ratings thanks to its UV stabilized polycarbonate cover and robust die-cast aluminium housing. Low maintenance, the Magna LED Street Light has an LED lifespan of L80 B10 54,000 hours and comes with a 5-year warranty for added peace of mind. It has also been designed with toolless gear tray removal to make it easy to maintain, has built-in surge protection and an anti-tamper isolation facility. Mark Abbott, Managing Director at Ansell Lighting says: “The Magna LED is a remarkable street light, providing a low maintenance, high performance solution for use in open outdoor spaces. Every detail of this luminaire has been thoughtfully considered from its robust housing and advanced lens design to its streamlined aesthetic and added protective features resulting in a truly unparalleled product.”

Electrical Safety Roundtable - End of an Era

After completing ten successful years as Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable in the Home, Chris Bielby has fulfilled his period of office and is stepping down. With his multitude of industry knowledge and experience following a career committed to enhancing safety, the Roundtable thrived under his leadership. Over the last ten years, the Electrical Safety Roundtable has developed from a standalone meeting, arranged to explore whether there was an interest within the industry in collaborating to improve electrical safety in the home, focusing in particular on how to address the poor promotion of competent registered electricians and enhance the enforcement of Approved Document P of the Building Regulations, to a fully-fledged stakeholder group with a Board of Directors and over 50 participant organisations. Notable achievements of the Roundtable include: • Supporting the creation of a unified mark and register of electricians registered with a UKAS accredited, Government Authorised electrical Competent Person Scheme Operator- to make it easier for householders and landlords find an electrician who can work safely and to legally required standards- Registered Competent Person Electrical • Creating a suite of Home Safety Certificates and checklists to help raise safety standards in the Private Rented Sector • Expanded its influence to provide a voice for the promotion of Electrical Safety in the Workplace and a sub-group, looking specifically at Social Housing as well as Electrical Safety in the Home • Published a Code of Practice for the Management of Electrotechnical Care in Social Housing • Hosted their first Virtual Conference in 2021, with close to 200 registrants • An investigation into the enforcement of Part P of the Building Regulations in England and associated report Under the Chairmanship of Chris Bielby participation levels grew and the Roundtable has become a well-respected and revered stakeholder group by Government. The Electrical Safety Roundtable has played a significant role in providing a unified industry voice and in 2019, it was asked to lead a Working Group, set up by Government to consider the introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks in the private rented sector, which went on to become the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The knowledge, experience and associates that Chris brought to the role has been of huge benefit to the Roundtable, and his passion has been a driving force for change. Commenting on his time as Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable, Chris Bielby says: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable. It has been a pleasure to work with such a variety of knowledgeable and passionate industry stakeholders. Over the last ten years the group has achieved so much in its journey to promoting the importance of electrical safety. We have provided a unified voice and the ESR has become a go to group for informal and formal Government consultation. I wish the ESR continued success in the future and will follow its progress with interest.’ Looking ahead, the Roundtable will continue to be a strong voice for industry change, pushing the boundaries and challenging industry and Government to look for ways to further improve electrical safety.

Two thirds of local authorities have no plans to install EV chargers

A freedom of information request (FoI) by leading electrical industry trade body ECA revealed that almost two thirds (66%) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs). With government plans to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035, the lack of charging infrastructure could prove a significant setback. Only one third (33%) of local authorities could confirm they had an EVCP strategy in place. Nearly half (48%) said they did not currently operate any EVCPs. Nearly two thirds (60%) have no funds earmarked for EVCPs to be installed in future. Comments revealed a lack of ‘joined-up’ policy from central Government. One local authority representative says, “One of the barriers [to EVCP installation] is the uncoordinated approach – it’s not joined-up enough.” With the annual COP26 climate conference underway in Glasgow, these findings follow a disappointing Budget announcement and long-awaited Net Zero Strategy. Luke Osborne, ECA’s Energy & Emerging Technologies Solutions Advisor, says: “The electrical and building services industry has the potential to build and maintain the green infrastructure we need to deliver Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and make Government’s promises a reality. “But with public interest in electric vehicles reaching an all-time high, the worrying lack of plans to install charge points will seriously hold us back in our pursuit of Net Zero – and stunt the growth of a booming market.” “A key focus for local authorities should be enabling constituents without off-street parking to readily charge with ease.” A report produced by the Green Jobs Task Force earlier this year showed that the UK could produce up to 1.6 million Electric Vehicles (EV) by 2040 and 50,000 vehicle technicians will need retraining or upskilling by 2025 to meet predicted demand. ECA’s 2,700 Member businesses, with a combined turnover of over £4 billion, ranging from SMEs to large, nationwide contracting businesses, are at the forefront of grid decarbonisation and the electrification of heat and transport.

New Senior Appointment at Innovative Smart Technology Company, amBX

amBX has announced that it has appointed Jonathan Couch as Product and Solutions Director, a brand-new role for the business. As an experienced Product and Engineering professional with an extensive smart technology and product development background, Jon will bridge the gap between commercial and technical and assume responsibilities. As a well-known and respected industry expert, Jon has worked for many established organisations, including Aurora, enModus and Microlights. He is an IoT and innovation champion and speaker across the globe with experience of working with a number of diverse integration partners. Jon will bring together his experience and knowledge of lighting product development, sourcing, smart technology, innovation, market needs, delivery, smart buildings and IoT to effectively develop SmartCore and align it with varying customer needs. Phil Cross, Chief Executive Officer, amBX comments: “I have known Jon for a number of years and have always admired his work. We have had the pleasure of working together a couple of times, and I’m delighted to have him on board and joining the team at amBX.” “I know Jon will deliver real value and fit into the team seamlessly. It’s a very exciting future for us at amBX; with a new strategic direction and lots of new partnerships and customers. We are poised for growth in Europe, the Middle East and North America with a range of solutions for various customer types. I’m excited to see how we progress over the coming months.” With vast experience of the market challenges and opportunities and knowledge of installation, project management and commissioning, Jon understands the benefits and flexibility of a software solution like SmartCore, and how it can benefit various stakeholders within the industry, including Smart Building Consultants, System Integrators, M&E Contractors and OEMs. Jon Couch comments: “I am delighted to be joining amBX. I have known about the company for years and watched them grow and develop from afar. I am blown away by the potential their software holds, and I’m excited to get stuck in and start working with a growing, dynamic likeminded team of passionate individuals.”

Boost in managed services takes CHH CoNeX to £17m turnover

Growing demand for managed services to assist the UK’s smart meter roll out has put one UK telecoms business on track to increase turnover by 70%. Midlands-based CHH CoNeX (CHH) has confirmed it is set to reach an annual turnover of £17m at the end of this year, a significant boost from last year’s £10m figure. Key to growth has been overwhelming demand for managed services, which comprises 75% of this year’s turnover figure. CHH was instrumental in the original infrastructure rollout of more than 850 cabinet and integrated rack systems for the North of England and Scotland as part of the first phase of the country’s smart meter rollout. Once providers moved on to installing smart meters into premises, CHH then started providing a wide range of consumables to field engineers as part of its managed service offering. The company has since kept field engineers supplied with all their vital tools, consumables and personal protective equipment (PPE) on a next day delivery basis, enabling them to spend more time in the field carrying out smart meter installations much more efficiently. Demand for this provision has led to CHH CoNeX investing heavily in its managed services team, adding new personnel as well as training existing team members. CHH CoNeX sales and marketing director, Kevin Wilcox explains: “The UK is undergoing some major infrastructure projects right now and our managed services provision is in high demand. Field engineers come at a high premium so keeping them productive in the field by ensuring they have access to critical tools at all times is important. Any lost time in the field waiting for tools is costly, particularly for such a major project as the smart meter roll out.” CHH CoNeX is forecasting even further growth throughout the next few years as the country prepares for a wider uptake of electric vehicles, making implementation of a nationwide charging infrastructure vital. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) believes Britain could require 10 times as many EV charge-points before 2030, which would be reliant on managed services support in order to keep installation productive. Wilcox comments: “Our managed services provision originated with major telecoms providers and storage businesses, but really got traction with the smart meter roll-out which led to enormous growth supporting field engineers in the residential market. This still remains the case and these same companies are now transitioning into the EV charging & heat pump install markets so we can foresee business continuation for our managed services model in the months and years to come.”

Introducing the new heating range from ElectricalDirect

ElectricalDirect has added a number of new heating solutions to its range in preparation for the winter season. The new additions include electric radiators, underfloor heating and portable heaters, all in stock and available for next day delivery. New underfloor heating As part of its growing line up, the supplier has introduced an entirely new range of underfloor heating components from market leading brand Heat Mat. The new stock spans everything from the Heat Mat NG Touch touchscreen thermostat, through to the Heat Mat Electric Underfloor heating mat to complete any underfloor heating project. New electric radiators and panel heaters Several new electric radiators are now available, including the Rointe D Series electric radiator with WI-FI. Featuring smart technology, end users can adjust their radiators from anywhere, with the Rointe Connect LITE app. Thanks to their slim design and thermal properties panel heaters are an excellent choice for smaller spaces where instant heat is required. ElectricalDirect’s range now includes the easy to install Dimplex PLX200E 2.0kW electric panel heater with adaptive start controls and ‘open window detection’ to reduce energy wastage. New portable heaters The portable Jet Heat industrial electric fan heaters are designed to provide comfortable heat in storage rooms, construction sites, workshops, warehouses and more. These 3kW and 9kW heaters are ideal for smaller poorly ventilated areas as the fans do not consume oxygen and are completely odourless. Speaking on the new additions, Carrie Earl, Category Manager at ElectricalDirect says: “We regularly review our entire range to ensure our professional and trade customers get the products that they need for a vast range of projects and applications. Our new heating additions join a number of products that we supply for both domestic and commercial washrooms, including electric towel rails, panel heaters and electric hand dryers, as well as extractor fans, ducting and hot water controls.”

KNIPEX launches the TwinGrip Slip Joint Pliers for stuck bolts and screws

The new KNIPEX TwinGrip Slip Joint Pliers can be used to securely grip and reliably loosen stuck bolts and screws, even with a worn profile. An asymmetrical pipe grip ensures that flat workpieces can also be machined from the side to optimum effect. The slim, ergonomic pliers also has five adjustment positions thanks to convenient push-button adjustment. Pliers’ specialist KNIPEX is introducing its new KNIPEX TwinGrip (82 01 200) Slip Joint Pliers as the optimum solution for stuck bolts and screws. Thanks to the clever combination of front and side gripping functions, an extremely resilient box-joint and finely serrated push-button adjustment, the range of applications for this powerful tool is broad. These very slim pliers with narrow turning zone for quickly tightening and loosening screws, enable powerful gripping and ergonomically comfortable working even in confined spaces. The high-grip front jaw has robust teeth and a high gear ratio at the tip of the mouth. Serrated gripping surfaces in the pliers axis support safe gripping from the front, while the high gear ratio allows the KNIPEX TwinGrip to easily grip, tighten and loosen even heavily worn screw heads. Even flat workpieces can be reliably gripped from the front thanks to the asymmetrical pipe grip with its 3-point system. Side-griping is just as powerful and handy with the KNIPEX TwinGrip. The serrated gripping hole also firmly grips round materials and hexagonal profiles in this position. The geometry of the 2-zone gripping jaws is optimised for maximum grip when loosening and tightening screws, thanks to the opposing alignment of the teeth. A slip joint with five push-button settings can be precisely adjusted to large front and side gripping capacities for diameters and widths across flats from four to 22 millimetres. The push-button engages securely and thus prevents unintentional shifting. A pinch stop ensures safety against crushing injuries. The KNIPEX TwinGrip is forged from chrome vanadium electric steel and oil-hardened; its teeth are also inductively hardened to approx. 61 HRC.

Marshall-Tufflex launches a new range of modern desktop modules

Marshall-Tufflex has expanded its Underfloor to Desk collection with a new range of stylish desktop modules, providing professionals with even more choice for modern office applications. Providing simple, flexible access to power, data and USB charging right at the desk surface, the new desktop modules are ideal for the increasing demand for flexible workspace, whether it be commercial or domestic office applications. Designed with convenience in mind the sockets are angled at 45° to accommodate large plugs and transformers and include a master switch with neon power-on indicator. The ergonomic desktop modules are easy to install with a flat base, so they effortlessly mount to desks and can be attached using desk clamps or adhesive pads, both of which are supplied with the module. The desktop modules are equipped with fast charging USB type C sockets for streamlined device charging, such as smartphones and tablets, without the need for socket adaptors. For greater flexibility, the 6C cut-out’s allow the end user to populate the unit with their choice of data or multimedia outlets. For quick and simple installation, the new desktop modules can be powered with either GST18/3 connectors or Marshall-Tufflex MT32 connectors, for easy plug and play connection (or a 20mm knockout option for hard wiring). The modules are also fully compatible with Marshall-Tufflex’s range of RCBO modules to offer additional circuit protection if needed. On the launch Jon Chamberlain, Commercial Director at Marshall-Tufflex says: “In response to the changing requirements of our customers, we’re pleased to introduce the new desktop modules to further expand our range of underfloor to desk products. As part of our commitment to quality this latest addition is constructed with tough high impact PVC-U and is ideal for hot desking and flexible working environments.”

Leading electrotechnical businesses win top industry awards

Sixteen electrotechnical and engineering services organisations and individuals were recognised at the 2020/21 ECA Industry Awards, held on Friday 22 October at the London Hilton Bankside Hotel. After an almost two-year hiatus, the 2020/21 Awards highlighted some of the key achievements by leading talent in the sector, providing a great opportunity for contractors and others across the electrotechnical and engineering services industry to showcase their exceptional work. Guests on the night were treated to a range of entertainment, including live music, table magic and more. Thousands of pounds were raised for the Electrical Industries Charity during a prize draw. TV and radio personalities Steph McGovern and Alan Dedicoat (the voice of the National Lottery) hosted the proceedings and presented awards to the winning ECA organisations and individuals. In all, 16 performing businesses and individuals from across the industry scooped honours at the awards, which were supported by headline sponsors Electrium and LEDVANCE. These included awards for Contractor of the Year, Best Fire and Security Project, and the Excellence in Training and Development Award. Long-time industry advocate and major player in the fight for fairer payment practices in the construction industry, Rudi Klein deservedly won the Major Contribution to the Industry Award. An independent panel of judges including Andrew Stevens, CEO of CNet Training, Martyn Allen, Technical Director of Electrical Safety First, Julia Evans, Chief Executive of BSRIA, and Jon Graham, Chief Executive of JTL Training, determined the winners from a pool of impressive entries. The awards were adjudicated by ECA Director of Member Services Helen Atkinson. “Many congratulations to this year’s deserving winners, and also to the highly commended nominees who all submitted impressive entries,” she says. “We would like to encourage ECA Members who are working on impressive and innovative projects this year and next, or who are delivering new health and safety or training and development initiatives, to enter the next awards, which will be held in June 2023.”